The Jets dropped their season opener to the San Francisco 49ers, 32-19, a loss that arguably humbled them because it wasn’t really that close.
This week, they face a less-established opponent in the Tennessee Titans and will be desperate not to fall to 0-2.
Here are the biggest stories to watch as the Jets look to bounce back…
Which playmakers will step up on offense?
One feature of Monday night’s game was that, until late in the third quarter, Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson were the only Jets playmakers to touch the ball on offense. New York must look to get more players involved this week.
Allen Lazard actually ended up leading the Jets with 89 yards and two touchdowns on six catches, although most of that came in garbage time. These numbers represented the best statistics he’s posted since signing with the Jets, but can he do it again when it matters?
Other players the Jets will be keen to get more touches include tight ends Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert and wide receiver Xavier Gipson. The trio caught just one pass between them on Monday night. It remains to be seen whether Mike Williams is physically ready to play a bigger role or if they will look to get rookies Braelon Allen and Malachi Corley involved in the game plan.
A revenge game for Jamal Adams
After the latest in a long series of injury issues, ex-Jets safety Jamal Adams looks set to make his Titans debut this week after spending the past four seasons in Seattle. Despite leaving the Jets over four years ago, it’s obvious he’d still love to get one over on them.
Adams has only played in 10 games since 2021 and hasn’t registered a sack in his last 24 games. His last one was all the way back in December 2020, one game after he last faced the Jets and recorded a sack in a 40-3 Seahawks blowout.
If Adams sees action and is anything less than 100 percent, it could create the kind of coverage mismatches that Aaron Rodgers will look to exploit.
Can the Jets rattle Will Levis?
The Titans have some decent pass-catching talent with DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd, and Calvin Ridley all starting. However, quarterback Will Levis had an erratic game on Sunday and didn’t do a good enough job of getting them involved. They ultimately combined for 76 yards on seven catches.
Levis holds onto the ball a lot longer than Brock Purdy typically does, so the Jets’ pass rush will have a better chance of getting home this week. The Jets pass rushers will feel good about their chances of generating constant pressure against a young offensive line.
Although Levis was only sacked three times against the Bears, he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble as the Titans squandered a 17-0 lead and were shut out in the second half. Levis’ second interception was returned for a fourth quarter touchdown to help clinch the Bears’ win.
Will New York show any improvement against the run?
The 49ers dominated time of possession and scored on eight consecutive possessions on Monday night, and the main reason for this was their running game. Jordan Mason racked up almost 150 yards on the ground as an injury replacement for Christian McCaffrey.
The Titans also had some decent success on the ground in Week 1, as they compiled a total of 140 yards, including 82 for Tony Pollard, who averaged over five yards per carry.
New York needs to do a better job, not just upfront but also in terms of their lane discipline from the back seven. The linebackers and secondary need to be more efficient at rallying to the ball without allowing themselves to be sealed off on cutbacks due to being overaggressive.
Is the short week going to disrupt the Jets’ preparation?
The Titans have an extra day to prepare compared to the Jets, on account of the fact that the Jets played on Monday night. At this early stage of the season, this could be a tangible advantage for Tennessee because it was apparent after Wek 1 that both teams have plenty to work on.
One positive coming out of Monday’s game is that there didn’t appear to be any injuries to Jets players that seem likely to affect their availability for Sunday. Cornerbacks DJ Reed and Michael Carter II both began the week with a limited designation for practice, but head coach Robert Saleh was hopeful both of them would play.
